COMMON SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY

EU BATTLEGROUPS Updated: January 2011 Battllegroups/07

Full operational capability in 2007 The is a global actor, ready to undertake its share of responsibility for global security. With the introduction of the battlegroup concept, the Union formed a (further) military instrument at its disposal for early and rapid responses, when necessary. On 1 January 2007 the EU battlegroup concept reached full operational capability. Since that date, the EU is able to undertake, if so decided by the Council, two concurrent single-battlegroup-sized (about 1 500-strong) rapid response operations, including the ability to launch both operations nearly simultaneously.

At the 1999 Helsinki European Council meeting, rapid response was identified as an important aspect of crisis management. As a result, the 2003 assigned to member states the objective of being able to provide rapid response elements available and deployable at very high levels of readiness.

Subsequently, an EU military rapid response concept was developed. In June 2003 the first autonomous EU-led military operation, , was launched. It showed very successfully the EU's ability to operate with a rather small force at a significant distance from Brussels, in this case more than 6 000 km. Moreover, it also demonstrated the need for further development of rapid response capabilities. Subsequently, Operation Artemis became a reference model for the development of a battlegroup-sized rapid response capability. In 2004 the Headline Goal 2010 aimed for completion of the development of rapidly deployable battlegroups, including the identification of appropriate strategic lift, sustainability and disembarkation assets, by 2007.

Within this context and based on a French-British-German initiative, the EU Military Staff (EUMS) developed the battlegroup concept, which was agreed by the EU Military Committee (EUMC) in June 2004. Since then, work has been taken forward, based on an agreed roadmap. It was concluded in October 2006 with the delivery of a single battlegroup concept document.

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Basic features

A battlegroup is the minimum militarily effective a credible and coherent, rapidly deployable force package capable of stand-alone operations or for the initial phase of larger operations. It is based on a combined-arms, battalion-sized force, reinforced with combat-support and combat service-support elements. In their generic composition, but depending on the mission, battlegroups are about 1 500 personnel strong.

Timeline

EU action Approval Council decision Forces start implementing appropriate of CMC to launch operation mission in JOA

NOT FIXED NLT 5 days NLT 10 days

Readiness Deployment BG In-area preparations

Battlegroups are based on the principle of multinationality and could be formed by a framework nation or by a multinational coalition of member states. Interoperability and military effectiveness are key criteria. A battlegroup is associated with a deployable force headquarters and pre-identified operational and strategic enablers, such as strategic lift and logistics. Member states may also contribute niche capabilities, providing specific elements with added value for battlegroups. Battlegroups are on standby for a six-month period and should be initially sustainable for 30 days, extendable to 120 days if resupplied appropriately.

Operations HQ • not deployed OHQ • not part of the BG package

BG package Force HQ • including staff + CIS support and augmentees • could be based on a brigade level HQ (F)HQ • deployed in theatre

Battle Group (Inf Bn and choice of …..)

Combat Infantry Combat Service Support Battalion Support

Operational and Strategic enablers (choice of …)

Air Sea Logistics Special Forces

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Tasks

Based on the Headline Goal 2010, which places the emphasis on rapid response and deployability, the EU has progressed well in further developing its military capability. Battlegroups will be employable across the full range of tasks listed in Article 43(1) of the Treaty on European Union and those identified in the European Security Strategy. They are combat-trained and their full potential would be best realised in tasks of combat forces in crisis management, bearing in mind their limited size. Battlegroups' operations would as a rule be conducted under a UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR), although operations could be envisaged where a UNSCR would not be necessary (e.g. for evacuation of EU citizens).

Standards, training and certification

To qualify as an EU battlegroup, the battlegroup packages have to meet commonly defined and agreed military capability standards. Standards and criteria embodied in the BG concept and the BG preparation guide form the basis for member states to develop specific instructions to ensure coherence between the constituent parts of the battlegroup package, taking into account the requirements of multinationality. A basic principle is that the battlegroup training is the responsibility of the Member states concerned. The EU facilitates coordination among member states. The certification of battlegroups also remains a national responsibility of the contributing member states. The EU Military Committee, assisted by the EU Military Staff, monitors the battlegroup certification process, which must be undertaken according to established EU-agreed procedures.

Training is a key requirement for battlegroups. Member states concerned conduct a series of exercises in this regard, prior to taking a battlegroup standby period.

The certification of the battlegroup package by member states will provide the EU with the necessary assurance that it is ready for a possible mission. The operation commander, who will be appointed by the Council on a case-by-case basis, has the authority to tailor the command and control structure and the battlegroup package assets and capabilities to the specific requirements of the operation.

EU battlegroup commitments

Member states conduct the generation of a battlegroup package and are responsible for offering a complete package formed by a framework nation or by a multinational coalition of member states. The battlegroup package has no fixed structure and thus provides member states with the necessary flexibility to form their own battlegroup package. This could lead, for instance, to battlegroups with a mountain or amphibious capability. This flexibility aims at facilitating smoother force generation and a broader spectrum of capabilities.

Member states offer their battlegroup packages at the six-monthly EUMS-chaired Battlegroup Coordination Conference (BGCC). The planning horizon of the BGCC is five years. It is up to the member states how they constitute a battlegroup package and for what time frame it will be offered. The last BGCC, held in October 2009, confirmed that standby periods are completely subscribed until 2011. Member states have committed several other battlegroup packages for the period beyond. Member states putting together a battlegroup on standby, or to be on standby within the next 18 months, also offer an operation headquarters. Member states may invite non-EU European NATO countries, other countries

3 which are candidates for accession to the EU and third countries to take part in battlegroups as troop-contributing nations. Furthermore, the establishment of some battlegroups is based on multinational coalitions of EU member states, such as EUROFOR.

The role of the battlegroup concept

The battlegroup concept provides the EU with a specific tool in the range of rapid response capabilities, which contributes to making the EU more coherent, more active and more capable. This concept enables the EU to respond rapidly to emerging crises with military means, taking into account the size and capabilities of the battlegroups on standby. The battlegroup concept also has the potential to be a driver for capability development and for making the armed forces of member states more capable of undertaking rapid long-range deployments.

Significantly, the need for additional strategic lift capabilities is underlined by the battlegroup concept. Furthermore, the concept emphasises the need for accelerated decision-making. Not only do the EU bodies need to be ready but the national decision-making processes need to be synchronised to meet the demanding timelines. Setting up a battlegroup package is an opportunity for enhanced military cooperation between member states. This improves mutual knowledge of each other's capabilities with regard to military means and political decision-making. Finally, the battlegroup concept reinforces the EU's military identity in a concrete manner.

The European Union battlegroups

Since the battlegroup concept was agreed in June 2004, much has been achieved. With the full commitment of member states, the battlegroup concept has already shown its potential value in securing increased cooperation and capability development among member states. It has contributed to enhancing the EU's capability to deal with rapid response and will continue to do so.

In November 2009 the Council approved guidelines for improving the flexibility and usability of battlegroups.

The common security and defence policy (CSDP) shall be an integral part of the common foreign and security policy. It shall provide the Union with an operational capacity drawing on civilian and military assets. The Union may use them on missions outside the Union for peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the Charter. The performance of these tasks shall be undertaken using capabilities provided by the member states.

The common security and defence policy shall include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy. This will lead to a common defence, when the European Council, acting unanimously, so decides. The CSDP includes a strong conflict prevention component.

Further information and background documents available on: Hwww.consilium.europa.eu/esdpH and Heeas.europa.eu

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